France willing to compromise with US by reviewing WTO rules to be exempt from tariffs

FRANCE’S finance minister is attempting to compromise with president Donald Trump by offering to review the global trade rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in exchange for Washington giving the European Union (EU) an exemption from upcoming steel and aluminum tariffs.

Unless Emmanuel Macron, French President and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are able to persuade Trump during their visits this week, the tariffs will start on May 1.

Mr Maire said: “The EU has to be ready to take all the appropriate decisions if the American administration decides to raise tariffs on the EU.”

The French finance minister is proposing a trade off, by giving the EU a permanent waiver from these tariffs, France would be willing to discuss the multilateral trade system with the US and the future of the WTO.